CBS and NBC's evening newscasts on Friday were too busy covering the sudden death of pop musician Prince to set aside any air time to the Democratic governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, taking executive action to restore the voting rights of over 200,000 felons inside the commonwealth. Both CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News led with the Prince story. Together, they devoted nearly 11 and a half minutes to the Purple Rain star. ABC's World News Tonight also hyped the celebrity's death, but still aired a 23-second news brief to Governor McAuliffe's move. [video below]
Substitute anchor Tom Llamas highlighted the "partisan divide over a voting rights decision by the governor" during the news brief, and actually summarized the views of the two sides in the controversy: "McAuliffe says he's trying to help undo the state's history of trying to prevent African Americans from fully participating in democracy. Republicans say it's a bid to help Hillary Clinton become president."
Llamas failed to mention that the Virginia Democrat was the co-chairman of former President Bill Clinton's 1996 bid for re-election. Governor McAuliffe also chaired Mrs. Clinton's previous presidential campaign in 2008.
World News Tonight aired three reports back to back on Prince's death at the beginning of the program. Llamas didn't get to the Virginia story until 12 minutes into the newscast. The program ended with a video montage of tributes to the pop star. Altogether, the ABC newscast devoted 7 minutes and 17 seconds to the celebrity's demise.
NBC Nightly News devoted the least amount of air time to Prince — four minutes and 5 seconds. They also hyped President Obama and Donald Trump's reactions to the "transgender bathroom ban" in North Carolina. However, they never got around to covering Governor McAuliffe's executive decision.
CBS Evening News led with back-to-back segments on Prince's death. They also aired a report from correspondent Anthony Mason on Prince's legacy. Their coverage of the musician equaled ABC's on World News Tonight.
The transcript of Tom Llamas's news brief from ABC's World News Tonight on April 22, 2016:
TOM LLAMAS: And from Virginia, a partisan divide over a voting rights decision by the governor — Democrat Terry McAuliffe restoring voters rights to some 200,000 felons if they've completed their sentence and probation. McAuliffe says he's trying to help undo the state's history of trying to prevent African Americans from fully participating in democracy. Republicans say it's a bid to help Hillary Clinton become president.
